Holographic storage media

1. A holographic storage optical article comprising:

a matrix formed in situ using one of cationic epoxy polymerization, cationic vinyl ether polymerization, cationic alkenyl ether polymerization, cationic alkyl ether polymerization, cationic ketene acetal polymerization, epoxy-amine step polymerization, epoxy-mercaptan step polymerization, unsaturated ester-amine step polymerization (via Michael addition), unsaturated ester-mercaptan step polymerization (via Michael addition), vinyl-silicon hydride step polymerization (hydrosilylation), isocyanate-hydroxyl step polymerization (urethane formation), isocyanate-amine step polymerization (urea formation), Diels-Alder step polymerization, anionic polymerization of cyanoacrylates and sol-gel reactions to form inorganic or hybrid inorganic/organic networks, comprising functional moieties capable of binding to write components; and

write components, wherein the write components can be reacted to reversibly bind to functional moieties pendant upon or within the matrix backbone to form a pattern within the optical article when the holographic storage article is exposed to an interference pattern and wherein the write components are not bonded to the matrix and are able to diffuse through the matrix prior to reversibly binding to the matrix to form the pattern, and the holographic storage optical article is rewriteable and is configured to store holographic data and have holographic data retrieved from the article.

2. The optical article of claim 1 , wherein the write components comprise an anthracenes.

3. The optical article of claim 1 , wherein the reversible binding of the write components to the matrix is a cycloaddition reaction.

4. The optical article of claim 1 , wherein the binding of the write components to the matrix can be reversed by exposing the optical article to light of a different wavelength than was used to bind the write components to the matrix.

5. The optical article of claim 1 , wherein the pattern formed within the optical article is a refractive index modulation pattern.

6. The optical article of claim 1 , wherein the matrix comprises an organic or inorganic polymer or glass.

7. The optical article of claim 1 , wherein the write components contain reactive groups that reversibly bind to functional moieties of the matrix when the optical article is exposed to an interference pattern and wherein the proportion of the matrix functional moieties to write component reactive groups within the medium is at least 1:10.

8. The optical article of claim 1 , wherein the optical article contains a photosensitizer that induces the binding of the write components to the matrix.

9. The optical article of claim 1 , wherein the optical article is a holographic storage medium.

10. The optical article of claim 1 , wherein the write components bind to the matrix functional moieties via a dimerization or cycloaddition reaction.

11. A method of rewritable pattern formation within an optical article, comprising:

writing an interference pattern comprising first data to the optical article by exposing the optical article to a first interference pattern, wherein the interference pattern is formed by bonding write components to a matrix comprising functional moieties that are pendant upon or within the matrix backbone and are capable of binding to write components and wherein the write components are not bonded to the matrix and are able to diffuse through the matrix prior to binding to the matrix to form the interference pattern, and wherein the matrix is formed using one of cationic epoxy polymerization, cationic vinyl ether polymerization, cationic alkenyl ether polymerization, cationic alkyl ether polymerization, cationic ketene acetal polymerization, epoxy-amine step polymerization, epoxy-mercaptan step polymerization, unsaturated ester-amine step polymerization (via Michael addition), unsaturated ester-mercaptan step polymerization (via Michael addition), vinyl-silicon hydride step polymerization (hydrosilylation), isocyanate-hydroxyl step polymerization (urethane formation), isocyanate-amine step polymerization (urea formation), Diels-Alder step polymerization, anionic polymerization of cyanoacrylates and sol-gel reactions to form inorganic or hybrid inorganic/organic networks;

erasing the data by exposing the article to a predefined condition;

writing a second interference pattern comprising second data to the optical article by exposing the optical article to a second interference pattern; and

reading the second data from the optical article.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the optical article comprises anthracenes.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the predefined condition is exposure to light of a different wavelength than was used during the flood curing.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the predefined condition is heat.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the optical article has a Δn of 3×10 −3 or higher after being exposed to the second interference pattern.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the optical article is a holographic storage medium.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising flood curing the optical article by exposing the optical article to light after writing an interference pattern.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the write components bind to the matrix functional moieties via a dimerization or cycloaddition reaction.

19. A method of manufacturing an optical article, comprising:

mixing a matrix precursor and a write component together; and

reacting the matrix precursor to form a matrix using one of cationic epoxy polymerization, cationic vinyl ether polymerization, cationic alkenyl ether polymerization, cationic alkyl ether polymerization, cationic ketene acetal polymerization, epoxy-amine step polymerization, epoxy-mercaptan step polymerization, unsaturated ester-amine step polymerization (via Michael addition), unsaturated ester-mercaptan step polymerization (via Michael addition), vinyl-silicon hydride step polymerization (hydrosilylation), isocyanate-hydroxyl step polymerization (urethane formation), isocyanate-amine step polymerization (urea formation), Diels-Alder step polymerization, anionic polymerization of cyanoacrylates and sol-gel reactions to form inorganic or hybrid norganic/organic networks, wherein the matrix contains functional moieties that are pendant upon or within the matrix backbone to which the write component can bind when the optical article is exposed to an interference pattern, the write components are not bonded to the matrix and are able to diffuse through the matrix prior to exposure to the interference pattern, the write components can react by reversible cycloadditions, and the optical article is rewriteable and is configured to store holographic data and have holographic data retrieved from the article.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the write components comprise anthracenes.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the optical article further comprises a photosensitizer.

22. The method of claim 19 , wherein the optical article is a holographic storage medium.

23. An optical article comprising:

a matrix formed in situ using one of cationic epoxy polymerization, cationic vinyl ether polymerization, cationic alkenyl ether polymerization, cationic alkyl ether polymerization, cationic ketene acetal polymerization, epoxy-amine step polymerization, epoxy-mercaptan step polymerization, unsaturated ester-amine step polymerization (via Michael addition), unsaturated ester-mercaptan step polymerization (via Michael addition), vinyl-silicon hydride step polymerization (hydrosilylation), isocyanate-hydroxyl step polymerization (urethane formation), isocyanate-amine step polymerization (urea formation), Diels-Alder step polymerization, anionic polymerization of cyanoacrylates and sol-gel reactions to form inorganic or hybrid inorganic/organic networks, comprising functional moieties that are pendant upon or within the matrix backbone and are configured to bind to write components; and

write components, wherein the write components bind to the matrix to form a pattern when exposed to an interference pattern and wherein the write components are not bonded to the matrix and are able to diffuse through the matrix prior to binding to the matrix to form the pattern, and the holographic storage optical article is rewriteable and is configured to store holographic data and have holographic data retrieved from the article.

24. The optical article of claim 23 , wherein the pattern formed within the optical article is a refractive index modulation pattern.

25. The optical article of claim 23 , wherein the matrix comprises an organic or inorganic polymer or glass.

26. The optical article of claim 23 , wherein the functional moieties are part of a polymer backbone that forms the matrix.

27. The optical article of claim 23 , wherein the functional moieties are attached to the matrix as pendent groups.

28. The optical article of claim 23 , wherein the write components contain reactive groups that bind to the functional moieties of the matrix when the optical article is exposed to an interference pattern and wherein the proportion of matrix functional moieties to write component reactive groups within the medium is at least 1:10.

29. The optical article of claim 23 , wherein the write components contain reactive groups that bind to the functional moieties of the matrix or to another write component.

30. The optical article of claim 23 , wherein the optical article contains a photosensitizer that induces the binding of the write components to the matrix.

31. The optical article of claim 23 , wherein the optical article is a holographic storage medium.

32. The optical article of claim 23 , wherein the T g of the optical article is between 80° C. and −130° C.

33. The optical article of claim 23 , wherein the write components bind to the matrix functional moieties via a dimerization or cycloaddition reaction.

34. A method of forming a pattern within an optical article, comprising:

exposing an optical article to an interference pattern, wherein write components within the optical article bind to a matrix comprising functional moieties that are pendant upon or within the matrix backbone and are capable of binding to write components to record the interference pattern, the write components are not bonded to the matrix and are able to diffuse through the matrix prior to binding to the matrix to form the pattern, the matrix is formed using one of cationic epoxy polymerization, cationic vinyl ether polymerization, cationic alkenyl ether polymerization, cationic alkyl ether polymerization, cationic ketene acetal polymerization, epoxy-amine step polymerization, epoxy-mercaptan step polymerization, unsaturated ester-amine step polymerization (via Michael addition), unsaturated ester-mercaptan step polymerization (via Michael addition), vinyl-silicon hydride step polymerization (hydrosilylation), isocyanate-hydroxyl step polymerization (urethane formation), isocyanate-amine step polymerization (urea formation), Diels-Alder step polymerization, anionic polymerization of cyanoacrylates and sol-gel reactions to form inorganic or hybrid inorganic/organic networks and the holographic storage optical article is rewriteable and is configured to store holographic data and have holographic data retrieved from the article.

35. The method of claim 34 , wherein the pattern formed within the optical article is a refractive index modulation pattern.

36. The method of claim 34 , wherein the matrix comprises an organic or inorganic polymer or glass.

37. The method of claim 34 , wherein the functional moieties are part of a polymer backbone that forms the matrix.

38. The method of claim 34 , wherein the functional moieties are attached to the matrix as pendent groups.

39. The method of claim 34 , wherein the write components contain reactive groups that bind to the functional moieties of the matrix when the optical article is exposed to an interference pattern and wherein the proportion of matrix functional moieties to write component reactive groups within the medium is at least 1:10.

40. The method of claim 34 , wherein the write components contain reactive groups that bind to the functional moieties of the matrix or to another write component.

41. The method of claim 34 , wherein the optical article contains a photosensitizer that induces the binding of the write components to the matrix.

42. The method of claim 34 , wherein the optical article is a holographic storage medium.

43. The method of claim 34 , wherein the T g of the optical article is not more than 50° C. above the temperature at which the pattern is formed.

44. The method of claim 34 , wherein the write components bind to the matrix functional moieties via a dimerization or cycloaddition reaction.

45. A method of manufacturing an optical article, comprising:

mixing a matrix precursor and a write component together; and

reacting the matrix precursor to form a matrix using one of cationic epoxy polymerization, cationic vinyl ether polymerization, cationic alkenyl ether polymerization, cationic alkyl ether polymerization, cationic ketene acetal polymerization, epoxy-amine step polymerization, epoxy-mercaptan step polymerization, unsaturated ester-amine step polymerization (via Michael addition), unsaturated ester-mercaptan step polymerization (via Michael addition), vinyl-silicon hydride step polymerization (hydrosilylation), isocyanate-hydroxyl step polymerization (urethane formation), isocyanate-amine step polymerization (urea formation), Diels-Alder step polymerization, anionic polymerization of cyanoacrylates and sol-gel reactions to form inorganic or hybrid inorganic/organic networks, wherein the matrix contains functional moieties that are pendant upon or within the matrix backbone and are to which the write component can bind when the optical article is exposed to an interference pattern, the write components are not bonded to the matrix and are able to diffuse through the matrix prior to binding to the matrix to form the pattern, and the holographic storage optical article is rewriteable and is configured to store holographic data and have holographic data retrieved from the article.

46. The method of claim 45 , wherein the matrix comprises an organic or inorganic polymer or glass.

47. The method of claim 45 , wherein the functional moieties are part of a polymer backbone that forms the matrix.

48. The method of claim 45 , wherein the functional moieties are attached to the matrix as pendent groups.

49. The method of claim 45 , wherein the write components contain a reactive group that binds to the functional moieties of the matrix when the optical article is exposed to an interference pattern and wherein the proportion of matrix functional moieties to write component reactive groups within the medium is at least 1:10.

50. The method of claim 45 , wherein the write components contain a reactive group that binds to the functional moieties of the matrix or to another write component.

51. The method of claim 45 , wherein the optical article contains a photosensitizer that induces the binding of the write component to the matrix.

52. The method of claim 45 , wherein the optical article is a holographic storage medium.

53. The method of claim 45 , wherein the write components bind to the matrix functional moieties via a dimerization or cycloaddition reaction.